Suttle highlights safety, jobs in State of the City address

Omaha Mayor Jim Suttle talked about jobs, safety and getting illegal guns off the streets in his annual State of the City address.

Suttle, who is running for re-election, said he is committed to improving Omaha for everyone who lives and works in the city.

The mayor said more people are coming to Omaha, looking to invest in projects. However, he said he knows more needs to be done.

“We need to get more illegal guns off the street,” Suttle said. “Got to put a dent in this poverty, and the only way to do that is jobs, jobs jobs. Not only for adults, but for young people as well.”

Suttle said the city will add a gang specialist in South Omaha, along with a relief shift so the gang unit can work seven days a week.

“We’re 42nd in size,” he said. “We’ve got a phenomenal record. Homicides are around 38 per year. Kansas City’s 114, but when you get inside the city, 38’s too many. So relative to Omaha, we have much more to do.”

Community activist Willie Barney said programs like Step-Up, the summer job program, is having an impact on violent crime.

“Over 850 youth and young adults were working last summer,” Barney said. “We also had the lowest level of gun violence in several years, so I don’t think it’s by accident. When you see those programs, employment opportunities, job training opportunities, it simply works.”

Suttle will give two neighborhood-specific State of the City addresses. He will present the first at Christie Heights Community Center from 5:30 p.m. until 7 p.m. Friday. Suttle will present the second at the North High School auditorium on Saturday from 9:30 p.m. until 10:30 p.m.

Copyright 2013 byKETV.com All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.